5 UFC fighters who would make great coaches

Modified Oct 30, 2021 17:16 GMT

Javier Mendez (left) & Khabib Nurmagomedov (right) [Image Credits- @TeamKhabib on Twitter]

#4. UFC Welterweight Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson is often hailed as one of the nicest fighters in the UFC. However, there is a lot more to Stephen Thompson than just his amicable demeanor.

'Wonderboy' came into the UFC on the back of an absolutely staggering amateur and professional career. Over the course of his amateur kickboxing career, Stephen Thompson managed to consolidate an unbeaten record of 37-0.

This was followed by a 20-0 stint as a pro-kickboxer before he forayed into the realm of MMA and went 5-0 before signing with the UFC.

He brings a unique brand and a varied skillset with a karate-dominant style to the fold. His proficiency across multiple spectrums of combat sports gives him the technical know-how to become a great head coach.

What's more, he has also expressed interest in coaching a TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) team sometime in the future. Here's what he had to say about the same while in conversation with MMA Fighting's Mike Heck:

"I think it would be fun. Change it up and see if the NMF can go out there and have a good time with it. I think it would be cool", said Stephen Thompson.

#3. UFC Middleweight Georges St-Pierre

Georges St-Pierre is a true veteran of the sport, who has seen the highs and lows that come with a career in combat sports. Boasting a UFC record of 26-2-0, GSP is popularly hailed as one of the greatest fighters to have fought in the UFC.

His success across multiple weight classes and his prowess for various styles of combat offer him the credibility and legitimacy he requires to embody the role of a head coach perfectly.

What's more, his performance as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter's Season 12 only worked to make a stronger case for the same. He managed to lead Jonathan Brookins all the way to a victory in the TUF finale.

In addition to his leadership, GSP stacked his coaching staff up with some of the most experienced and proficient coaches in their respective styles. Rest assured he will do the same for his fighters when fight week rolls around.